Download PDF - Education Update

AUGUST 2008 ■ EDUCATION UPDATE ■ spotlight on schoolsThe Business of Public SchoolsBy Public AdvocateBetsy GotbaumSix years ago, the mayor of New York City,Michael Bloomberg, did what many thoughtimpossible: he took direct control of the schoolsystem.Not surprisingly, the CEO-turned-mayor andhis newly formed Department of Education(DOE) have run the school system like a business.But, with little public education experienceamong those in charge, questionable decisionshave been made.They implemented three major reorganizationsand relied heavily on high-priced outsideconsultants who also had little knowledge of theschool system, to the detriment of schools andstudents. For example, in January 2007, consultantsmade major cuts to bus routes that resultedin thousands of students waiting in the cold andforced some to cross major intersections to get to found only 7% of elementary schools and 27% ofschool. Fortunately, along with others, I was able middle schools surveyed offered instruction into get 20% of routes restored.music, visual arts, dance and theater. Similarly,Another misplaced attempt was the streamliningof special education, which led to a severe majority of elementary and middle schools wea report from my office found that the vastdrop in referrals and evaluations. And, in 2004, surveyed provide little, if any, physical educationclasses to students.when my office uncovered this problem, theDOE admitted that 20,000 students were shortchangedthat year. In response, they changed ignore parents and students, leaving communityA major mistake made by the DOE has been topractices, added money back and created the input and public oversight out of the process.first special education summer make-up program.Students could not, however, regain the open middle schools within elementary schoolsWe see this with the cell phone ban, decisions toyear of missed services.without consulting parents, closing schools withoutwarning, changes to the gifted and talentedGreat emphasis has been placed on statisticalresults, including test scores. In order to boost program, pre-k admissions, and the list goes on.test scores, there has been an obsessive focus on And, when parents complain they can't get basictest prep. While the DOE has shown an increase information, all they get is a referral to 311.in scores, experts in the field are skeptical. As a Of course the mayor deserves some credit. Heresult of excessive testing, there has been a loss has raised teacher salaries, and he gave principalsmore control over their schools.of a well-rounded education, including art andphysical education classes. Recently, my office Because the last six years have been a time ofonlineadeducationupdate:Layout 1 8/5/08 12:30 PM Page 1The Children Are Not Prepared?Let Us Prepare ThemBy Sandra Priest RoseSo much of education literature talks aboutthe lack of preparation of the children who enterkindergarten. Not all parents have the time northe education to be able to teach the letters andthe sounds to their children. Not all parents caneven read to their children.It is up to us as teachers to plunge in and teachthe children and watch how “prepared” they canbecome.When I went to kindergarten 75 years ago, in amill town in Rhode Island, none of us had beento nursery school or a pre-school program of anykind. The school did not expect us to know anything.Those teachers and that firm principal feltit was their duty to teach us everything. I clearlyremember the kindergarten teacher teaching usthe sounds of the language and were taught towrite in cursive style, and the great adventure ofreading began.Today parents are demanding that their childrenlearn much more in kindergarten. Mycolleagues and I began, a bit reluctantly, adozen years ago to teach more to public schoolkindergartners. Lo and behold! The childrengobbled up everything we could give them: thesounds of the language, handwriting, writingsimple regular words, writing simple sentences,remembering some spelling rules. Even thechildren whose home language was not Englishcaught up quickly.We have had to revise our whole view of whatinner-city kindergartners can learn. It has beenmore of a challenge to us than to the children.They take it all in stride and are teaching usalong the way! And as a result, we have becomebetter and stronger teachers. #Sandra Priest Rose is a founding trustee ofReading Reform Foundation of New York and areading consultant. Reading Reform Foundationtrains teachers directly in their classrooms.great tumult for city schools, it's important tosee what has worked and what hasn't, especiallygiven that the law governing mayoral controlwill sunset next year.At the request of the leadership of the stateassembly, I have appointed an independent commissionon school governance to make recommendationson what the future of mayoralcontrol should be.This mayor is a businessman. The next mightnot be. Regardless of the next mayor’s approach,the system’s customers—parents and students—should be able to expect stability, transparency,and consultation. #CUNY’s Online BaccalaureateThe degree you needfor the life you wantADMISSIONS WORKSHOPS:Thursday, August 14, 1 p.m.-8 p.m.Saturday, August 16, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.Admissions/Advisement Center 7th floor101 West 31st Street, Manhattan• Complete your degree online, majoring in Business orCommunication and Culture• Affordable and open to students who have earned at least30 credits from an accredited college or universityApply Now...Start This Fall!www.cuny.edu/online or 212-652-CUNY(2869)School of Professional StudiesOnline BaccalaureateWalk-in Admissions/Advisement Center, 101 West 31 Street, NYC9 a.m.-8 p.m., Monday-Thursday9 a.m.-5 p.m., Friday